Washington AG Secures $46,000 in Refunds for Service Members in SCRA Housing Case
SEATTLE – Attorney General Nick Brown announced that Olympic Management Company will pay over $46,000 in refunds and interest to 22 service members who were improperly charged fees after ending their leases early due to deployment or other military orders. This resolution is part of the state’s continued efforts to uphold the housing rights of military personnel.
Under Washington’s Service Members’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA), landlords cannot impose early lease termination fees or demand repayment of rent concessions when an active-duty service member is deployed, reassigned, or retires. These protections are designed to ensure service members can meet the demands of military service without facing unlawful housing penalties.
“Members of the military must be ready to deploy at any moment. They should not have to worry about unfair housing fees when they’re simply trying to serve our country,” said Brown, who began his legal career in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, protecting soldiers and their families from fraud. “That’s why it’s of utmost importance to hold property managers accountable under the law and make sure service members get the financial relief they deserve.”
Olympic Management Company, based in Fife, oversees dozens of apartment complexes across multiple counties in Western Washington.
Investigation origins
The case began in March when U.S. Army Captain Steven Broyles, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. At the time, Broyles was living at Olympic Management Company’s Switchback Apartments in Lacey.
After medically retiring from active duty, Broyles ended his lease early under the protections of the SCRA. Despite these protections, Olympic informed him he would need to repay $2,085, the value of a free month’s rent he had received as a concession when signing his 12-month lease.
Believing the charge violated the law, Broyles reached out to the AGO’s Consumer Protection Division and provided a copy of the company’s standard lease agreement. That lease included a claw-back provision that violated both federal and state SCRA protections.
Following his complaint, an assistant attorney general sent a cease and desist letter to Olympic, directing the company to stop using the unlawful lease provision and requesting records on other service members who may have been affected.
“Other service members were in the same boat. I’m glad that my fellow service members and I will not be taken advantage of,” Broyles said. “I was very happy that the Attorney General’s Office was able to help out.”
Attorney General Brown also acknowledged the company’s cooperation in resolving the matter. “We’re grateful to Olympic for acting swiftly and thoroughly to address our concerns,” Brown said. “The company’s cooperation allowed us to reach this resolution in a very short time. This is how the law was intended to work.”
So far, two service members have received their refunds. The AGO will distribute the remaining payments, ranging from $23.11 to $3,649, to 20 other affected service members. In addition, Olympic Management Company will pay $10,000 to the state to cover costs and attorney fees, which will be used to support future SCRA enforcement actions.
Service members who believe their rights under the SCRA may have been violated are encouraged to contact their nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program office or file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. Since 2014, the AGO has held authority to enforce the SCRA in Washington, providing vital protections for military families.
For landlords, property managers, and businesses, staying compliant is essential. Verify active duty status easily with SCRACVS and avoid costly disputes.
